12 bookshops have been longlisted for the An Post Bookshop of the Year 2024
Twelve bookshops across the country have been longlisted for the An Post Bookshop of the Year category at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards, the annual literary event that celebrates and promotes Irish writing and authors to a wide range of readers.
Previous winners include Kenny’s Bookshop, Galway, in 2021, Bridge Street Books, Wicklow, in 2022 and Halfway Up The Stairs, Greystones, in 2023.
THE LONGLIST
Bantry Bookshop, Bantry, Co. Cork
Books Upstairs, Dublin 2
Bridge Books Dromore, Co. Down
Hodges Figgis, Dublin 2
Hubb16, New Ross, Wexford
Leaf and Bower, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Liber, Sligo town
Little Acorns Bookstore, Derry
O’Mahony’s, Limerick
Tales for Tadpoles, Bray, Co. Wicklow
The Company of Books, Ranelagh, Dublin
The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Customers voted for their favourite bookshops and those with the most votes were longlisted and have now been invited by the judges to enter a written submission.
Mystery shoppers will visit the twelve bookshops as part of the judging process to establish a shortlist of six. The shortlist will be officially announced on the 24th October.
The overall winner of An Post Bookshop of the Year will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event on 27th November along with a prize worth €15,000 from An Post Commerce.
Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said that bookshops are at the heart of communities across Ireland. ‘This category was introduced to recognise the important role bookshops play, not only in the books industry but in Ireland’s literary tradition and heritage. They are cultural spaces that really help to foster creativity and a love of reading among children and adults, and we are so proud to be able to support them in this way. It’s wonderful to see such deserving bookshops on the longlist and we wish them all the best of luck.’
Dawn Behan, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, said that Irish bookshops are a vital part of society, offering a space of discovery and celebration of the written word.
‘Booksellers are at the core of the Irish literary industry, connecting readers with titles they will love and cherish, and it is wonderful to see them getting recognition. I’m pleased to see such a diverse longlist for 2024 and extend my warmest wishes to them all.’
Commenting on the important role bookshops play in local communities, Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels thanked all the independent book shops ‘who consistently enrich local urban and rural communities across the country. The very best of luck to everyone on the long-list; the judges have a tough challenge ahead of them.”
The shortlist for all categories in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024 will be announced on Thursday, 24th of October, while the winners will be announced on Wednesday, 27th November.
